This is a big one.
Two teams near the top of the USL Eastern Conference table — Louisville City FC and the league newcomer Tampa Bay Rowdies — square off at 7:30 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field.
It’s a blackout game featuring LouCity’s new third kit and comes on the heels of the club’s stadium site announcement for a 10,000-seat facility in the Butchertown Neighborhood.
Here’s what else to know before kickoff…
Tune In
TV: WBNA-21 will air the game live and in high definition locally. Mike Watts, voice of the USL. has the call.
Radio: Pregame coverage begins at 7:15 p.m. on 840 WHAS and the iHeartRadio app with T.J. Walker (play by play) and Jeff Milby (color commentary) at the mic.
Streaming: Watch live on the USL Match Center.
Follow Along
For Starting XI information and in-game updates, check us out on social media. It’s @loucityfc on Twitter, Louisville City FC on Facebook and louisvillecityfc on Instagram. Vote for the Modelo Man of the Match on Twitter starting in the 75th minute.
Links
• LouCity aims to be at its best against talented Tampa Bay
• Video: Coach James O’Connor previews the game
• O’Connor looking forward to facing Rowdies’ big names
Notes
Massive matchup: As far as early season games go, this one’s huge. The Tampa Bay Rowdies sat atop the Eastern Conference table until mid-week, when Saint Louis FC (which has played two more games) won and moved into first place. With a win, the Rowdies would take sole possession of first back. LouCity could tie Saint Louis FC should it earn three points.
Stadium announcement: Saturday’s game follows a landmark day for LouCity. On Wednesday, the club announced that it has 40 acres of land in the Butchertown Neighborhood under option on which to build a 10,000-seat stadium and surrounding development. The stadium is planned to open in 2020 in accordance with USL requirements to play in a soccer-specific facility.
Third kit debuts: LouCity will don new black and purple jerseys Saturday and has a history of performing well in alternate looks. Last year, the club debuted its white and gold “hoops” kit in its season opener. LouCity ended up wearing it on the road the remainder of the year and went unbeaten; now, white and gold are the permanent road colors.
Jersey addition: LouCity signed Republic Bank this week as its official bank and, included in the partnership, right sleeve sponsor. Republic joins GE Appliances (front) and Falls City Brewing (back) as other locally based companies appearing on the club’s 2017 kits. Replica jerseys are on sale now.
Davis IV thriving: Midfielder George Davis IV leads LouCity with two goals on the season and also has an assist, all at a new position for the veteran out of the University of Kentucky. Davis IV played last season — and most of his career — on the wing. For LouCity’s first three games, he shifted to the No. 10 spot directly behind the striker to great success.
LouCity around the world: Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye saw his first minutes of the season in the win over Richmond, coming on as a substitute after a two-game stint with Canada’s U-23 team. Kaye fired a ball into the box that led to a handball and LouCity’s game-winning penalty kick in his 2017 debut. While with Canada, he went the full 90 minutes in two wins and was named Man of the Match in his final appearance.
Hometown hero: Louisville native Richard Ballard, a recent graduate of Indiana University, has started on the right wing in all three of LouCity’s games so far. He went the full 90 minutes in the opener against Saint Louis FC, registered his first assist at Orlando City SC and nearly earned a penalty in the first half on a run into the box against the Richmond Kickers.
Defense stands tall: Through 270 minutes, the only ball scored on LouCity’s back line has been an own goal. Newcomer Sean Totsch, formerly of the Rochester Rhinos, has featured as a center back alongside of Tarek Morad. Oscar Jimenez switched to left back from his former position in the midfield, while Kyle Smith again has right back locked down.
Spencer breaks through: Former MLS SuperDraft pick Luke Spencer put multiple knee surgeries behind him March 30 with a 76th-minute goal against Orlando City B, his first as a professional. Spencer, who came on as an early substitute, totaled six shots in a breakout performance, placing three of them on goal. He’s in a battle for playing time at forward with Cameron Lancaster.
Injury, discipline: Goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh will continue to sit out this weekend due to a hip flexor strain suffered in LouCity’s season opener. Coach James O’Connor said the club treated the injury with an injection. His return is weeks away. Saturday marks the first game defender Sean Reynolds is available for selection following a three-game red card suspension from 2016.
